TOSCA
Giacomo Puccini1858 - 1924
Melodrama in three acts
Libretto by Giuseppe Ciacosa and Luigi Illica after the play La Tosca (1887) by Victorien Sardou
First performed January 14th 1900, Teatro Costanzi, Rome

Private entanglements and personal tragedy are closely interwoven with historical facts in Puccini’s Tosca. The protagonists’ artistry define their characters, explaining Tosca’s eccentricity and self-confidence and Cavaradossi’s liberality: a heroine on stage turns out to be one in real life as well. Scarpia, on the other hand, is a product of his ruthless position of power over others and his sexual sadism, even today, is still one of the most scandalous scenes in opera. Andreas Kriegenburg »drew an incredible amount of detail reflecting the characters’ innermost motives that have never been shown before – every moment was thrilling. The subtle nuances just as powerful as the dramatic stage effects.« (Hans-Klaus Jungheinrich). The scenery, from »honest materials« like wood and glass, function as an »optical contrast to the emotional power of the music«, which shows how »our own world is increasingly threatened with coming under the scrutiny of surveilance systems« (Kriegenburg).

Synopsis

A man bursts into the church where his sister has hidden a key to a chapel. The sacristan brings food for the painter Mario Cavara ...

A man bursts into the church where his sister has hidden a key to a chapel. The sacristan brings food for the painter Mario Cavaradossi. The Sacrestan leaves. The fugitive re-emerges. Cavaradossi sees that it is Angelotti, consul of the overthrown Roman Republic. Tosca arrives. Cavaradossi decides not to tell her what has happened, gives Angelotti his food and tells him to hide. Tosca thinks Cavaradossi has been cheating on her; he tries to appease her. She says that she is free to spend the evening with him. His warm reaction arouses her jealousy and is made even worse when she recognises Attavanti’s (Angelotti’s sister) face in the painting of Mary Magdalen. Cavaradossi calms her and persuades her to leave. A cannon announces that Angelotti’s escape from prison has been discovered. Cavaradossi and Angelotti rush to Cavaradossi’s home. The sacristan brings news about the Austrians’ victory over Napoleon’s. The choristers rejoice. Scarpia enters. His secret police find Angelotti’s clothes, the empty basket and a fan belonging to Attavanti. Tosca returns. Scarpia rekindles her jealousy by telling her that he found the fan near the painting. Tosca hurries off, unwittingly leading Scarpia’s spies to Cavaradossi’s home.
Scarpia has sent for Tosca. The search for Angelotti was futile. Cavaradossi was arrested but is saying nothing. Scarpia orders that he be tortured. Tosca enters as he is being taken away. Cavaradossi begs her to say nothing. Hearing his cries of pain is too much and she tells Scarpia where Angelotti is hidden. Tosca offers money if Scarpia will release her lover but Scarpia demands physical remuneration instead. Spoletta reports that Angelotti has killed himself. Tosca she agrees to the deal. Scarpia orders that Cavaradossi be subjected to a sham execution, and gives Tosca a permit that will allow her and her lover to leave the city. When Scarpia embraces Tosca she grabs a knife and stabs him.
Mario gives his last possession to a warder in order to be allowed to write a farewell letter to Tosca.
She tells him that Scarpia is dead and that his execution is only a sham and that he should play dead after the shots have been fired. They shoot, he falls but when all have gone Tosca realises that the bullets were real. Scarpia’s body has been found. The soldiers are hurrying back. She leaps from the castle to her death.